Think Aloud
Image source: www.makingeducationfun.wordpress.com
Think Aloud is a reading comprehension strategy that asks students to say out loud what they are thinking while they are reading, solving math problems, or responding to questions posed by teachers. Teachers that are effective in the classroom think out loud regularly to model this process for students. When students verbalize their inner speech, they work their way through a problem. As students think out loud, they learn how to learn. Think Alouds are used to model comprehension processes such as making predictions, creating images, making connections in text, and overcoming problems with word recognition. (http://www.teachervision.com)
Why are Think-Aloud strategies important?
The Think Aloud strategy helps students monitor their own thinking and understanding of the text. By doing this, student's will develop their reading comprehension skills. As students verbalize their thoughts out loud, they internalize what they are saying, which in turn, helps them learn. (Cox, n.d)
How can I use Think Alouds in my classroom?
To use this strategy successfully, the teacher must model how to "Think Aloud". As you read the text, you should stop at the parts of the text that may be confusing or challenging for students. Next, you should go over examples of questions that student's should be asking themselves while they read the text. These questions will help support thinking aloud. (Cox, n.d)
Here are some examples of questions that you can use to prompt Think Aloud:
Image source: www.pinterest.com
It takes time for students to practice how to Think Aloud. Allow time for students to work on this strategy. They can practice asking questions aloud individually, with a partner, or in a group.
Think Alouds can be used before, during, or after reading. (Cox, n.d)
Before reading - You can ask yourself, "What does the title mean?" "This part of the story reminds me of...", "I like the part of the story when..."
During reading - As you read the text, you can ask yourself questions such as "The part of the text I am confused by is....", "I do not understand.....", Why didn't _____ happen?"
After reading - After you finish reading, you can ask yourself, "From this story/text I learned......", " My opinion about this book changed from_______ to _______", or "This text was mainly about....."
Think Alouds help students slow down during the reading process and allows students to monitor their understanding of the text.
Think Alouds can also be used as an assessment tool, here's how: (Cox, n.d)
Here are some examples of questions that you can use to prompt Think Aloud:
- I predict ....... will happen next
- What do I know about this topic?
- This part of the text made me think of....
- I think the most important part was.....
- I was confused by........
- The main idea of the text so far is......
- What new information did I just learn?
- I wonder why...
- I reread that part because....
- I just thought of.......
Image source: www.pinterest.com
It takes time for students to practice how to Think Aloud. Allow time for students to work on this strategy. They can practice asking questions aloud individually, with a partner, or in a group.
Think Alouds can be used before, during, or after reading. (Cox, n.d)
Before reading - You can ask yourself, "What does the title mean?" "This part of the story reminds me of...", "I like the part of the story when..."
During reading - As you read the text, you can ask yourself questions such as "The part of the text I am confused by is....", "I do not understand.....", Why didn't _____ happen?"
After reading - After you finish reading, you can ask yourself, "From this story/text I learned......", " My opinion about this book changed from_______ to _______", or "This text was mainly about....."
Think Alouds help students slow down during the reading process and allows students to monitor their understanding of the text.
Think Alouds can also be used as an assessment tool, here's how: (Cox, n.d)
- Teachers can listen while the students think aloud and assess their progress. This strategy can work very well in math while students are trying to solve math problems.
- Teachers can listen in as students walk through their thought process, which will allow the teacher to assess the strategies they are using.
- Teachers may choose to record students while using think aloud. This will allow teachers to go back and play the tape after the students finish their think aloud to assess them more accurately.
- Teachers can have students keep a journal or learning log. When students take notes on what they are saying, teachers can then review them to monitor the students comprehension.
Examples of content areas where you can use Think Aloud
Think aloud can be used in all content areas and across all grade levels. The questions student's ask themselves will be modified accordingly.
Here are two examples of subject areas where Think Aloud can be used. (http://www.teachervision.com)
Math - When a new math process is introduced, use think aloud to model how to work through the problem. Ask students to work with a partner to practice thinking aloud and describe each step of the process. Listen to students to monitor comprehension, and assess their understanding of the concept.
Writing - Think aloud can be used to help students with their writing process. You can use think aloud to ask questions in the pre-writing phase, such as "who is my audience?" or "The main idea of my paper is...." Use think aloud during the drafting and editing phase to make sure the writing makes sense. By using think aloud, students can clarify their questions and make sure the work is clearly presented. As students engage in reciprocal think alouds, they can talk about their texts. This dialogue helps students to make sure their audience understands their writing and helps fine tune their work.
Here are two examples of subject areas where Think Aloud can be used. (http://www.teachervision.com)
Math - When a new math process is introduced, use think aloud to model how to work through the problem. Ask students to work with a partner to practice thinking aloud and describe each step of the process. Listen to students to monitor comprehension, and assess their understanding of the concept.
Writing - Think aloud can be used to help students with their writing process. You can use think aloud to ask questions in the pre-writing phase, such as "who is my audience?" or "The main idea of my paper is...." Use think aloud during the drafting and editing phase to make sure the writing makes sense. By using think aloud, students can clarify their questions and make sure the work is clearly presented. As students engage in reciprocal think alouds, they can talk about their texts. This dialogue helps students to make sure their audience understands their writing and helps fine tune their work.
Video demonstrations of how to use Think Aloud
This video demonstrates how to model Think Aloud with a secondary education classroom. This teacher does a great job walking the viewer through the process of modeling Think Aloud as a reading strategy. It is important to teach students how to Think Aloud before asking them to do this in the classroom. During the video, this teacher demonstrates the process of asking himself questions in order to deepen his understanding of the text. At the end of the video, he asks the students to work with a partner to Think Aloud. Students appear to be engaged in the text and were willing to try this strategy.
|
|
This video is a great example of how to use Think Aloud to help increase reading comprehension. The teacher in the video shows students how to Think Aloud and break down the information in the text. She models how to pull out key information before reading, as well as how to use visualization and other strategies to identify key vocabulary and to understand what they are reading. At the end of the video the teacher plays a review game with the students to monitor/assess their comprehension. Students are engaged in the process, especially because the teacher plays a review game when they are done reading. Students love to play games and this is one way to complete the lesson and check for understanding.
|
|
Think Aloud and the Writing Standards
The writing standard that Think Aloud will help most with is standard 6.7.5.5. This standard says that with some guidance and support from peers and adults, students will use a writing process to develop and strengthen writing by planning, drafting, editing, and trying a new approach. The Think Aloud strategy will help students to verbally work through the writing process. By working with peers and using reciprocal think alouds, students can develop their ideas, clarify and edit their writing and develop their writing skills.